Steve Rowley

With high spring tide at 1300 today was ideal to introduce Liz, a family friend, to Lou-Lou Belle and the Blackwater. The wind was decent and rain wasn’t forecast until later so we set off, hard on the wind with a reefed main, towards Osea. The boat was bounding along, dipping her gunwale every now and again, with the odd lump of spray. Once past Ross Revenge we hove to so we could add some waterproof trousers and make a cuppa. The change of motion didn’t suit Liz and she was soon throwing up over the side and looking none too clever. We turned for home with the wind on the stern and soon back in the marina where I did some top banana parking! Despite the foreshortened trip it was still brilliant to be afloat again and Lou-Lou Belle felt very good. Removing the 31kg battery from the front of the cabin and cleaning her bottom seems to be appreciated.

Although there wasn’t much wind there was a nice high tide so I decided to explore the saltings and circumnavigate Great and Little Cob Islands, all under motor. Very pleasant little trip.

It’s was really foggy on my pre-dawn drive to Tollesbury but fortunately there was no fog when I arrived. High tide was 0619 and we left the dock just after 0700 with plenty of water over the marina sill. I watched the sun come up from a buoy off West Mersea where I had breakfast. My plan was to take the ebb tide up The Wallet for a close look at The Gunfleet Sands wind farm. There wasn’t much wind to begin with but after some tacking we had a nice close reach parallel to the coast past Jaywick and Clacton. As the wind was dropping we motored across to the wind farm then broad reached back towards The Blackwater. Then the wind disappeared almost completely so we motored sailed the rest of the way. Despite there being not much wind it was still a cracking day!

We left just before high tide at about 0950hrs. I wanted to head out towards Clacton for a change but it was an easterly wind and the waves were a bit rough so headed up towards Maldon against the tide. Made good progress and anchored off Osea for lunch. Then carried on but turned round as the channel was narrowing and it still wasn’t low water. Beat all the way back down with the tide and just after low water headed up Mersea Fleet. There still wasn’t much water in Tollesbury channel so anchored a couple of times and got the boat mostly packed up. By this time it was very dark. Managed to get down to the cill but couldn’t see that it was still exposed until we had nudged up against it. I thought we gently drift over as the water rose but we bumped and ground over broadside on. Hopefully haven’t sustained any damage! Once over we did some bumper boats as we ran aground in the marina. Eventually managed to get into our berth. Got home just before 2100 hrs.

Although annoyingly it picked up as I was coming in. I couldn’t stay out much later as the tide was falling. But, nonetheless it’s always good to get afloat.

Pleasure to have Bloomers onboard again. He did all the steering and I handled to sheets. There was a bit of south in the wind which was sufficiently strong to give us some decent tide assisted speed under full sail. We had a beat up towards Osea but no tacking. Once the tide turned we needed a couple of tacks to clear Osea jetty then a beam reach back down the estuary. Dover Coastguard was busy with a dismasted yacht and injured singlehanded skipper. CG shore team, lifeboat and helicopter. Then there was a broken down fishing boat of Point Clear needing a tow into Brightlingsea. Got back before a gale from the east blew in.

Early start this morning, chugging out of Tollesbury Marina at 0545 on the ebb tide. Picked up a buoy off Mersea for breakfast and let the rain pass through. Then down towards Brightlingsea. Once the tide turned we beat back into the Blackwater. It was quite spicy and wind over tide so wet too. Lou-Lou Belle went well under heavily reefed genoa, double reefed main and mizzen. We’ve not gone to windward in conditions like that and the old girl impressed me. Had a heave to about 3 times to pump out the cockpit! Got as far as Goldhanger Spit after poking our nose in St Lawrence Creek, momentarily ran aground and had to motor out into deeper water and off the lee shore. Then we returned down the estuary under full sail against the tide. A smashing day afloat!

Not much wind again but great to be afloat once again. Sailed up to Stone SC then the wind died so motored a bit further towards Osea before motoring back towards Bradwell. Decided to explore Old Hall Creek as it was HW springs. Noted some spots where I think we can anchor without drying out. There were a couple of seals on an old fishing floating thing. Did epic parking when we got back to the marina!

Kirsty the First Mate joined us again in the hope there’d be more wind than her first sail. There was a bit more wind, we only motored in and out of the marina, but we’d have welcomed more. That said the occasional gust showed what Lou-Lou Belle can do. We watched several races and there were some smacks out. Whether sunny. Parking was quite good!

It’s a shame there wasn’t much wind and what there was was blowing directly from where we wanted to go but Kirsty enjoyed her first trip aboard Lou-Lou Belle. We sailed a little but mostly motored up to Osea Island where we dropped the hook for lunch. K had a mushroom Cuppa Soup (with croutons!) and I had Pot Noodle. Then we sailed a little back towards Tollesbury eventually giving up and motoring again. K said she’d enjoy herself and would like to go out again with more wind.